Trauma services are increasingly providing emergency surgery care by creating “acute care surgery” teams. We compared two periods at a Level I trauma center to determine if trauma service coverage would negatively impact timely management of acute appendicitis. Study Design

All patients admitted through the emergency department of a Level I trauma center who underwent appendectomies between March 2005 and May 2006 (Trauma period) were identified. During this period, the trauma service covered most surgical emergencies. Comparison was made with the earlier 15-month period (Pretrauma). Emergency department to operating room (OR) time, procedure length, and negative appendectomy rates were obtained. Results

In comparing two periods with and without the trauma service coverage of surgical emergencies, no difference was found in emergency department to OR time, perforation rates, or negative appendectomy rates in the management of acute appendicitis. There was a decrease in operative time and an increase in the proportion of laparoscopic appendectomies in the Trauma period. Trauma services can effectively incorporate emergency surgical coverage of procedures, such as appendectomies, without compromising timely intervention.